Govbr



F. H. MEUNIER.

GOVERNOR FOR PLAYER PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27. I9.

Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR. fixiMswv/z/z A TTORNE Y.

F. H. MEUNIER.

GOVERNOR FOR PLAYER PIANOS.

APPLICATION men JUNE 21. m7.

1 ,32 1, 1 1 7. Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR. FH mun/ER J/v w /4 A TTORNE Y.

WITNESS:

V UNITE- earns PATENT FREE,

FREDERICK H. MEUNIER,=OF DENVER, COLORADO.

: GOVERNOR FOR rneYnnrriAuos.

To all/whom it may concern:

1' Be it knownthatI, FREDERICK. HQ MEU- N'IER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in. the county of Denver and 5 State, of 'Qoloi-ado, have invented certain new and useful "Improvements in Governors for Player-Pianosof which'the follow ng is a speeification.

a My; nvent n relates to improvements in 1 governors oft hetype used on' player' pianos to jaut'omatieallyregulate the velocityot an f i i r fi" h ougl 'jt new w h. whi h it/is dissociated, andthereby" insure av uniform, moye r'nfe'nt of the same irrespective of 1, h 'p pp ied ain pews i h by their action upon i's'uitahle f pumpingappliance, produces the flow of fair by which the motor, is operated:

"iIn 'governors at presen'tin usefthe an- ,currentf'drawn through' -the motor by the Pa t a V u 'e'duc d' byeth p mp n a'c'titinof thepedals, passes throughan openins-P r i y o e y 'f ht emPQ- and thence through apon; the opening of r 2 5 which"is',automatically'regulated "by means of a pressure-controlled valve, in accordance With'the degree of yacuum produced ,by the pedalactio'n; 1 I

'. If the'pressure "upon the'pedalsfis increased beyond the normal, the pressure controlled valve closes its port in accordance with the proportionately increasedfsuction and the air cur-rent is thus sufiiciently retarded toprevent the excess suction from accelerating the velocityof the moto r the tempo-valve; I

When the pressure upon the pedals'is decreased and the governor valve is in conbeyond that predetermined by adj ustment of 40 sequence movedto increase the opening of its port and thereby permit of. the passage of a larger volume of air to prevent slowing ofthe r'notor'to a less thannormal velocity, the tempo-opening through which ,the

current must pass to'reaeh the automatically controlled port and which-remains the same under all conditions", has a retarding influence uponthe-air flow and thereby diminishes the'velocity with which it is drawn through the motor.

As a result of this condition the desired uniform action of the motor is not obtained when the pedal action is decreased and it is the object ofthe present invention to correct this faulty operation of the governor by proadding a bypass around the tempoopening,

' Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Nov, 1'1, 1919, Application filed June 27, 1917. s erial N o. 177,273.-

themot'or past the tempo-valvefto'theautoinatically regulated port of-the governor, in accordance'with the decrease in vac uuni by a f diminish'edmovement of'the pumper pedals. illustrative embodiment otn y invention is, ijsh iown in tlie accompanyingdrawings t in the various view's (if which like reference characters des gnate eorgrespond rigpa'rts of the mechanism'and'in which v p,

T'Pl n vi w l'f ej 1 repre e ts; .e o t' o hich, ey

f PQ Zl .3 6. drtio i lei'; "horizontal s'ect ionp 1 Fig. 25 ayert'ie a l sec n 2- .5 Fi -f 1;

Fig. '3, asini' 1 3 5 ii Qn a s=ti jt ik in 4 i plane indicatedfbyithe lines 4-. -4;iin Fig; 3., Fig, '5, a transverse section along the line I." t

Fig. "6, a section 'taken along thefline 66, Fig.'i1, land; f y I q 7, a. section along uie1in'7+7, Fig." .1 Re'ferring rnore specifically to the drawings the reference (numeral '2 designates "the box of the governor, whi ch by means oi vertical and horizontalpartitions is divided into a number of chambers or compartments partitions to provide an jindirect passag'elbetween an airadrnission opening 3"inan; end

orthe box which connects with the motor, and'an'air-egress' qr suction openingf injthe opposite end of the same which connects with the bellows pr other pumping device operated' by the pedals :of the pla er-" iano.

'Thecompartmen'ts into .whicht 1e ox'i s divided,,*considered in the orderof their successive arrangement for the passageof the air-current through the governor, are the compartment 5 in the upper half of the boX which connects with the opening 3' and which has in its bottom a tapering tempoopening .6, theconipartmen'tY inthelower half of the box directly below the first-men.- tioned compartment, the compartment 8 in the upper half of the box connected wit-lithe last-mentioned compartment by-the "open or't'l2. 'This valve-su' or't has 'in one of P PP its sides a port 13 in connection with an opening 14 in the bottom of the compartment 8 to. connect said compartment with a compartment 15 in the lower half of the box which is in direct communication with the before-mentioned suction-opening 4 connect ing with the pumpingvdevice.

The normal direction of the air current between the openings 3 and '4 has been indicated in the drawings by arrows designated successively by the letters A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H and I.

The passage of the air-current through the port 13 is controlled by a valve 16 pivoted on the support as at 17 and connected with a bellows 18 which covers the compartment 8.

The valve is held against its seat by a spring 19 and its connection with the bellows is established through the mediuinofa bracket 2Q,;depending from the top-board of the same.

A spring 21 applied between a rearward ly extending arm 22 on the bellows and an extension 23 on the bottomjofthe boxtends to jmaintain the bellows ina wide-open I position against the'suction producedby the partial vacuum maintained in thec'ompartmentfi by thepedal action of; th instrument. I

The tempo-valve 24 consi s of a, slide which is held in engagement, with the bottom 1 surface of the'coinpartment' 5 by a spring 25 and which is connected with a rod 26 extending through an opening'in a'n'end of the box :2 to adjust its position with vrelation to the tempo-opening which in the operation of the instrument is partially coveredthereby.

The compartment 15 whichconnects with the port 13 controlled by the valve 16, is also connected by an opening 27 with ,a compartment 28 divided from the compartment 7 in the lower part of the box and connected ,with the valve-compartment- 5 by an opening29. r v I The flow through this opening isv controlled by a slide-valve 30 held in engagement with the bottom surface of the compartment 5 by a spring 3113,1311 connected with a rod 32 which extends through an opening in the end of the box for its adustment.

The purpose of the valve 30'is to efiect a direct connection between the admission opening 3 and thesuction-opening 4 of the governor when it is desired to accelerate the velocity of the motor when the music sheet of v the player-piano is rewound upon its spool, and the valve has no relation to-the parts of the governor to whichthe improvements included in my invention are applied.

The improvements which constitute my invention consist first'of all in providing adjacent the tempo-opening, one or more auxiliary openings 33; subdividing the compartment 7 with which these openings connect, by a transverse partition-34 to provide m i xihai ine by he tempo-valve"24hy a di posed end of the boxl'2. 1

48 and26 as at'52 and 53. 4

a. compartn'ient 35, subdividing the compartment 15 which connects with the valvecontrolled port -13, "by.- a partition 36 to provide a compartment 37 which is connected 'with the compartment 35 by an opening 38;

The valve 41 which pivotedas at 42 at the side ofthe support 12 opposite to that at which the valve 16;is positioned, is held in engagement with its seat by' a. spring 43. The valve is connected with the bellows by a threaded rod 44. which extends thro gh i a hole in the top-board of the bellows, fand a nut 45 which is screwed onto therod in engagement with; a Mg 1' 46 extending over t 1 8, l Q g r W h i i fqig s l Theia ealq a a renalin -1 sa esmansl' nwt i d P 5 j bia eiithlliii -x The slide is attached at an of, a

The' tempowalve 24 connected for synchronous avementsimultaneously COVGIjjOI, uncover the" respective openings at 'a predetermined ratio, ;by a lever 49 which is 'fu'lcriimed as at'50, u p on a bracket 51 fastened exteriorly, of ,the! box,

and pivotally connected with thatw o rods the operation of a gdvernor constructed 111 accordance[with my invent on, the tempo-Valve is moved ,toregulate the; size it is desired to'execute'on thelpiano p The arca, ofthe port, 39. is the synchronous 1 movement ,of the slide-valve 4? covered portion of the, tempo-opening, to prevent a Jfiow offlair through thei port in excess of the volume permitted topass through lsaidopeningfl After this adjustment, the proper condition to automaticallyv regulate the volume ofthe air-current passing through the motor by;.the partial vacuum produced by the pedalaction and thereby insure a uniform movement of ,the motor irrespective of variations in the pressure on the'pedals. i 1 I When the pressure upon the pedals is increased, the proportionately increased vacof the opening it controls in accordance with I. the eq rei e ltS f th mvu's'ical'comp si p regulated in; predetermined ;ratio rogue un-. 4,

the governor is in uum causes the bellows to collapse a 'ainst the; action, of the spring 21, thereby c osing the valve 16 and reducing the opening of the port=13.' The velocity' of'the air-current produced by the action of tlie pedal operated suctionappliance"to efi ectthe operation of the motor, thus 'remains' the same irrespective i The increased "opening of the port 13 'would'jcausefan increase 1n the volume of air assingfrem'the motor through'the governor, wereit 'not 'for'the fact that the fsi ze'-"of"' the': tempo-opening remains" the '='sa'rne"'and"restricts the free passage of the increased volume of motive fluid. *Intlie governor containing the improvements eon'stitutin my invention as hereinbe'fore' described,'-' this defect is effectively remeaiedw theopening movement of the with thebe'llowsai rheyalve which normally covers the-port 39 and threby' closes the by-passfor "the air eurrenti'auxiliarfto the tempmopening, uncovers ear pert whenmovecM -its open position by heqex'ten'sion "of the bellows caused-eye diminished pressure upon the -,eeda1s tr the instrument as 'hereinbefore'ex- "plaifid and ther by {permits the passage of an air-current between the openings 3 and i auxiliary to that passing through the teinpo openiiigs-along a path which coinineneing with the compartment 5 includes ia s'u'ecessive order, the "auxiliary tempoopenirigs {33, "the compartment 35, the opening '38,itlie'compartment' 37,"the opening in the 'bettom'fl e'f thevalv e-support, the opening-saconti-olled by the valve 41, the compartment 8,the opening 13 of the valvebqx controlled by the valve 16 which was ni-oved to it's open kpos'ition by the extension 6f; the bellowsytheport 14111 the bottom at the i i ailve sup'port' 12, the compartment 15'an'd the openin 16 which connects with thesuction opening 4. "'=The"direction oj'f'the air-currents through the by-pa's's auxiliary to the tempo-opening as herein described has been indicated in the" drawings by arrows designated successively by the letters a, b, 0, d, e, f, y, k and i. i It will be'readily' seen that the area of the 13011339 uncovered by the valve 41, is regulated in accordance with the decrease of the air-pressure in the chamber 8 and that in'conse quen'ce the outlet of the passa e which supplements that restricted by t e tempo-opening, is correspondingly increased or reduced in area.

It will'thus be understood that by theuse of my improved governor, the velocity of auxaary'walve .11 which sej e td fore, is not obtained in the operat the air-current passing through the motor remains substantially uniform during a decrease in suction produced -by -the 'pedal action as well as during an increase thereof and that in this respect it produces an effect which for the reasons mentioned hereinbeion of a governor of ordinary construotiom "Having thus described 'my invention what I claim and desire Patent is:

1. In a governor for player ;pianos',j the combination of aeasing havingamad-hrission-opening and a suction-opening-and a passage between them, an adj ustable' teriipo-- valve and a val'vexoperated'by aii pr'essure avariations,' controlling: the flow got i aair through successive I parts *of "the passage; la by-pass anxiliarytothe art'of the-passage controlled by the te'n'1'po-'valve, anidfavalve cooperative with the first-mentioned valve to open said" by-pass 'roportiorfate"to a de'cre'ase a vacuum pro u'ced at the suction-opennge: i' lil f": (1'? =3 ,"lg"

combination o'ff at easing: having ;an' admission opening "and -a'f suetien -opeiting 'and} a passage between theni, an adjustableltelnpovalve and; a va lve ope1'ated*by'i air-pressure to secure by Letters- 1 23111 a'f governor for =player pian0s',' -fthe 9o variations, 1 1 controlling" the flow ef 1 i air 'througlr successive parts 'of 'the passagega bypass auxiliaryitotlie part ofthepassageconmclled by the tau e-ma a avalveeperate (1 by a decrease in awaeuu-mipmduced at "the suction-openingfiooperr saidby passi -3.-In a governorfor' playeFpianos;"the combination of a casing ii'avi ng' 'ar'r etdnii'sision-opening and a-fsiuetibn opening and a betweenthem', adjustaeie -t0lfl170- vali'e to'r'estrict the flow of air through a part of said-passagaia "bellows operated-f by variations in airressure in said passage', "a valve connected with 'sa'id bellows "to auto- 'n'uztically restrict tlre ifiow' (it ir th rough ahother part of" the" pass ge; ivn'd a *valve 1cooperative witlfsaid automatic *valveto increase the carrying capacity of the "part of the passage controlled by the tempo-valve,

proportionate to' decrease in a" vacuum 'pro;

duc'ed at the suc-ti meperringfir 4)? 4. In a; everiwr *for- *player pianog' the combination of a easing having an? I admission-opening and suctibn-epening and a passage between them, an adjustable tempovalve to restrict the flow of ai'r through' a part of said passage,"-a 'b'ellows operated by variations in air-pressure-in said-passage, a valve adapted to automaticall'yfre'strict' the flow of air through an-other part oftthe passage, and a valve connected with sai'dbellows to increase tlie'conductive capacity of the part of the passagecontrolle'd by said tempo-valve, proportionate to a= decrease in a vacuum produced fat the suction opening. 5, In a overnor for =pl'ztyer-piaflbs; the

iii

. variations decrease in a vacuum tion-openmg.=. A

- combination :of a casing having an admission-opening and a suction-opening and a passage between them, an adjustable tempovalve'and a valve operated by air-pressure Controlling the flow of air through successive parts of the passage, a by-pass auxiliaryoto the part of the passage controlled bythe tempo-valve, a valve cooperative with the tempo-valve to restrict the flow of air through the bypass, and a valve cooperative with the first-mentioned valve .to open-said by-pass proportionate to a decrease in a vacuum produced at the suction-opening.

6. In a governor for player-pianos, the

icombinationof a casing having an admis- .sion-openmg and a suction-opening and a passage between them, an adjustable tempo- ,valveand a valve operated by air-pressure variations,controlling the flow of air through ,successive parts of the passage, a by-pass auxiliaryto the part ofthe passage con trolled-by the tempo-valve, an adjustable valve to restrict the How of air through ,the

bypass, and afvalve adapted to automjati callyopen said by-pass proportionate to-a produced .at-the suc- -7. In agovernor. for player-pianos, the

combination of a casing having an admission-opening and a suction-opening. and a passage between them, an adjustable tempo- .valve controlling-the flow; of .air through a "part of said passage, a by-pass auxiliary to said part of the passage, and a valve operated-byiair-pressure varlations, to open said by-pass proportionate to a decrease in a vacuum produced at the suctionsopening.

:8. A governor for player pianos comprising in combination, a box having a suctionopening and an admission opening, and divided into communicating compartments which forma passage-connecting said openings, one of said compartments having primary andauxiliary-tempo openings and another compartment havmg ports IBSPBCtlVBl):

connecting the tempo-openlngs with the suction-opening, a: bellows operated by air-pres- .sure variations, a valve connected with the tively connecting thetempo openings with the suction-opening, a valve operatedby airpressure variations to open, andclose'the port communicating with the primary tempo-opening,-,-avalve cooperative with the.

first-mentioned valve to open the other port proportionate to a; decrease in, a vacuum produced at the suction-opening, and, an adjustable tempo-valve controlling the flow of air through the, primary tempo-opening. a 110. A governor for-playerrpianos comprising in combination, a box having asuctionopening and an admission-opening; and divided into communicating compartments which form a passageconnecting said vopen- -ings,'-one, of said compartments having primary and auxiliary gtempo-openings and another compartment hav,ing ports respec- 1 tively connecting-{the tempo-openings 1 7 with the suctionopenmg, a valveoperated by. air-.

pressure variations to openand close, ;the port c mmunica ng wi h the an ma yi tempo-openingi an. djustabl :tQmP evaIvefiQnr.o11ing theiflom 0t a r t r ng v wr-pr ma y 2 n p 1op ning; iarieadi ta l iva veitoire ulate the effective area o f the port com- ,mun ng/wi h ithe euxilia v temporep ings a d arvalveie nera i e withe h fi o-in n iloned ralve to op n the las 'zmeet pnsd ,port propontionateto, adecrease in a -vacuum p aiucedat th sedimnrethar "vi -g 'i-A-i governor lion-playe P n '-;49 11- rprlsmgl in= comb t on; a h v g a; suanp g'a d ana m' s Qn opening; and

Idivided. ihtQr communicating -;cpmpartments ch m al-p s ag t -Wehr kings, one o a ompartment-S hay ng P ia y nd auxil ary mporopenin 'vand. a other compartment; haying, ports respectively connecting the. tempog openings with the suction-opening, a'valve operated by airpressure variations-to open and, close the port communicating withthe primary tempo-- opening, an f; adjustable tempo valve controlling the ;flow; f of; air ,through the pr yt mpo weaning, valv ,1 0 P- erative with. the tempo-valveLto regulate the effective area, of the; portmommunicating with the. auxiliary temp deepen ng, .;and a valve cooperative with the firstrmentioned I valve to open the 'last nention'ed port, proportionate to ;a; decrease in,; a vacuum produced atithe suction-opening.

12. A governor .forplayer pianos comprising injcombination a box having a suction-opening and an admission-opening, and divided into communicating compartments Which form. a passage connecting said openings, one of said compartments having ,primary and auxiliary tempo-openings and another compartment having portsrespectively connecting the tempo openings with the suction-opening, a bello\vs"op'e rated ,by a airpressure variations,.a v alve connected with the bellows to auton atically open and close the port communicating With the primary tionecl port proportionate to a decrease in tempo-opening, an ad ustable ten1po-valve a vacuum produced at the suctlon-opening. 10

controlling the flow of air through the pri- In testimony whereof I have afliXed my mary tempo-opening, an adjustable valve signature in presence of two Witnesses.

to regulate the effective area of the port FREDERICK H. MEUNIER. communicating with the auxiliary tempo- Witnesses:

opening and a valve cooperative With the G. J. ROLLANDET,

first-mentioned Valve to open the last-lnen- L. RHoADEs.

Ooplu of this patent may be obtained tor five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

